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The 

Narcotic  Drug  Control  Law 

You  Support  It? 


THE  FACTS 

SUGGESTIONS  ON  HOW  TO  HELP 


Issued  by  the 

Federal  Council  of  the  Churches  of  Christ  in  America 
105  East  22nd  Street,  New  York  City. 


PRINCIPAL  FACTS 


1.  The  State  is  now  without  a law  to  control  the  improper  use  of  and 
traffic  in  habit  forming  drugs. 

2.  The  Federal  Harrison  Law  (enacted  1914)  is  enforced  by  the 
Federal  courts  and  district  attorneys.  The  courts  and  the  police 
of  the  State  must  be  authorized  by  the  Legislature  to  join  in  the 
campaign  against  addiction. 

3.  A simple  and  comprehensive  bill  (Assembly  No.  342)  has  been 
drafted  by  competent  authorities  and  introduced,  Jan.  16,  1924, 
by  Mr.  Weinfeld. 

4.  This  bill  is  in  accord  with  the  Federal  Harrison  Act  except  that 
it  includes  some  provisions  beyond  the  power  of  Congress. 

5.  It  is  supported  by  the  New  York  State  Bar  Association,  at  its 
Annual  Meeting,  January  19,  1924;  by  the  Federal  Council  of 
Churches,  February  9,  1924;  and  by  the  Social  Service  Commit- 
tee of  the  New  York  City  Federation  of  Churches. 

MAIN  FEATURES  OF  THE  BILL 

1.  The  bill  makes  possession  of  or  dealing  in  the  drugs  speeified, 
except  in  accord  with  the  law,  a misdemeanor. 

2.  It  specifies  clearly  how  a person  can  legitimately  possess  or  deal 
in  these  drugs  and  it  follows  the  Harrison  Act  closely. 

3.  It  adopts  Federal  order  blanks  for  all  purchases,  and  the  only 
added  requirement  is  the  filing  of  duplicates  with  State  author- 
ities. 

4.  It  requires  pharmacists  to  preserve  prescriptions  in  the  same  form 
required  by  the  Harrison  Act. 

5.  It  requires  physicians  who  dispense  or  administer  narcotics  to 
keep  records  similar  to  those  which  the  Federal  authorities  require 
and  to  file  reports  annually. 

6.  It  provides  for  the  commitment  of  addicts  for  treatment. 

7.  It  requires  the  reporting  of  cases  of  treatment  of  addicts,  thus 
securing  statistics  of  extent  and  localization  of  addiction  on  which 
to  base  a future  comprehensive  solution  of  the  problem  of  the  care 
of  these  unfortunates. 

8.  The  enforcement  of  the  Act  is  placed  in  the  hands  of  police  author- 
ities and  courts  throughout  the  State. 

9.  Peddling  and  other  illegal  traffic  are  treated  as  crimes  to  be  de- 
tected and  punished  like  other  violations  of  the  law. 


OPPOSITION 


Opposition  to  the  proposed  law  comes  only  from  those  engaged  in 
the  manufacture  of  and  traffic  in  narcotic  drugs,  who  desire  untram- 
meled opportunity  for  enormous  profits. 

There  are  many  intricate  ramifications  of  the  drug  trade.  Those 
interested  resort  to  “insidious  obstructive  propaganda  so  disguised  as 
to  elude  the  ignorant  or  thoughtless.”  They  have  recently  broad- 
casted the  statement  that  “it  should  be  the  policy  of  our  State  to  leave 
narcotic  drug  control  to  Federal  law  and  enforcement.” 

Such  a proposal,  however,  is  manifestly  utterly  impracticable,  for 
the  Federal  authorities  have  no  control  of  the  State  police  and  State 
courts,  which  alone  reach  down  into  every  community,  nor  can  the 
Federal  government  care  for  the  individual  addicts. 

THE  DRUG  EVIL 

Heroin,  of  all  the  narcotic  drugs,  is  the  supreme  danger.  It  “cuts 
off  the  sense  of  responsibility ; heroin  addicts  will  more  quickly  commit 
crimes,  and  with  no  sense  of  regret  or  responsibility.  It  makes  much 
quicker  the  muscular  reaction  and  therefore  is  used  by  criminals  to 
make  them  more  daring  and  their  muscular  reflexes  quicker.” — Dr. 
AI.EXANDER  Lambert. 

“The  heroin  habit  has  grown  to  extremely  large  proportions  in  a 
way  that  is  absolutely  appalling,  harmful  not  only  to  the  well-being 
of  those  addicted,  but  to  the  well-being  of  the  State.” — Judge  C.  F. 
Collins. 

In  the  New  York  City  drug  clinics  (April,  1919-January,  1920), 
out  of  7,464  addicts  treated,  69%  were  under  30  years  of  age  and  39% 
under  24.  Over  90%  of  drug  users  in  New  York  City  are  addicted  to 
heroin. 

“Heroin  is  the  most  powerful  of  habit-forming  drugs,  the  most 
detrimental  in  its  effects  on  the  users  and  the  most  difficult  drug-habit 
to  combat.” 


USE  OF  HEROIN  FORBIDDEN  IN  THE 

U.  S.  ARMY 

“Stocks  of  heroin  on  hand  at  posts,  camps,  stations  or  medical 
supply  depots  will  be  destroyed  and  dropped  from  the  stock  record 
account  on  certificate  of  the  medical  supply  officer.  Heroin  is  no 
longer  issued  for  use  of  the  Medical  Department  of  the  Army.”  By 
order  of  the  Surgeon  General,  M.  W.  Ireland. 


WHAT  TO  DO 

I.  WHAT  PASTORS  CAN  DO 

(1)  Introduce  the  subject  in  a sermon  in  the  near  future. 

(2)  Have  this  leaflet  for  distribution  to  all  members  of  the 
congregation. 

(3)  Draft  a resolution  in  favor  of  the  Weinfeld  BiU  and  secure 
signatures  from  many  members  of  the  Church. 

(4)  Send  the  resolution  to  representatives  in  the  Senate  and 
Assembly. 

(5)  Persuade  many  dhurch  members  to  write  personal  letters 
to  representatives  in  the  Senate  and  Assembly. 

(6)  Get  the  facts  into  the  local  press  by  a suitable  article  and 
by  personal  letters  to  the  editor  from  men  of  local  influence. 

II.  WHAT  LAYMEN  CAN  DO 

(1)  Help  distribute  this  leaflet. 

(2)  Talk  to  your  pastor  and  urge  him  to  follow  the  suggestions 
made  above. 

(3)  Write  to  your  representatives  in  the  State  Legislature. 

(4)  Persuade  your  friends  and  acquaintances  to  write  letters 
as  suggested  above. 

III.  WHAT  CITY  CHURCH  FEDERATIONS  AND  MIN- 
ISTERS’ ASSOCIATIONS  CAN  DO 

Provide  Mass  Meetings  for  popular  information  and  inspira- 
tion, for  signing  petitions  and  for  urging  the  writing  of  personal 
letters  to  representatives  in  the  Senate  and  Assembly. 

Where  To  Secure  Information 

The  BiU  and  additional  information  may  be  secured  from  Hon. 
M.  Weinfeld,  Albany,  N.  Y. 

The  Report  on  the  situation  made  by  the  Committee  of  the  Amer- 
ican Bar  Association  may  be  secured  from  Mr.  Stephen  P.  Anderton, 
52  William  Street,  New  York  City. 

Important  Memoranda  on  the  Narcotic  Drug  situation  may  be 
secured  from  the  Foreign  Policy  Association,  9 East  45th  Street,  New 
York  City,  or  from  J.  P.  Chamberlain,  Secretary  of  the  Narcotic 
Drug  Control  League,  105  East  22nd  Street,  New  York  City. 

Copies  of  this  leaflet  may  be  secured  for  distribution  ($2.00  per 
hundr^,  postpaid)  from  the  Federal  Council  of  Churches  of  Christ  in 
America,  105  East  22nd  Street,  New  York  City. 


